Cradle To Grave | Viking Burial Ship Ash Casket

Viking Burial Ships, complete with urn, hand-made made from Willow to carry ashes, whether they are being scattered or buried. Made in Dorset.

Viking Ship Ash Casket

OUR NEW DESIGN WOODEN SHIELDS MAKE THIS VIKING SHIP LOOK EVEN MORE AUTHENTIC

Have you ever thought how wonderful it would be to have your ashes sent off to sea or on a lake in a Viking ship. We can provide you with a lovingly crafted Viking ship complete with sail, willow shields and an ash urn.

This beautiful Viking ship has been designed by myself and my partner Tosh. It has been designed to give your loved one a send off you won't forget. I myself have fantasised about having a Viking funeral being laid to rest in a long-ship, and launched off to sea and have arrows shot at it to set it on fire and then sail off into the sunset.

Now our dream can be a reality, but on a smaller scale.

The boat is fully watertight and can be floated on a calm lake or a calm sea. It is made of Somerset willow, making it 100% bio-degradable and produced with all natural materials so can be used in a burial of ashes too. In the meantime, the boat can be bought and used as an ornament and can be shown off to all your friends.

It has an authentic stripy sail but it can be painted with your family crest or a design of your choice. A small square ash basket with a canvas ash bag sits inside the boat to carry the ashes.The boat should take up to 3-4 kilos weight of ashes but it is important to make sure the boat is ballanced right with the stones or house bricks wedged into the base at each end and the ashes on top in the middle of the boat.

Having a final send-off, whether it be a scattering of ashes, a burial or sending ashes off in a boat should be ceremonious and an occasion shared by loved ones and remembered fondly.

All our ships are individually made so bear in mind that it can take 3-4 days to make and 1-2 days to post so a weeks notice is advised.For overseas orders,it could take up to 10 days to make and post.

Please call or email for delivery options (one or two day delivery parcelforce)

The boat comes with assembling and directions instructions.

THE VIDEO OF BURNING SHIP BELOW IS EDITED.THE ACTUAL BURNING TIME WAS 20-25 MINUTES UNTILL IT SANK

CONCERNS ABOUT USING LOGSMy boater friends and I were most concerned about lighting a boat aflame, even as small as this one, on the lake. It was a bit of a clandestine operation in our community. We we far enough from shore and far enough away from other boats (fishing) to not attract attention, to not be seen. We certainly did not want to attract attention or concerns of a fire on the lake. We did not want to trouble the Coast Guard with someone making a distress call. As you know, the fire is small and did not create much smoke. We were not sure what to expect.

We did not want any remaining debris to cause potential damage to another boat. That is why we used small hickory wood cubes rather than logs. Even small log could destroy a propeller. It’s a big lake but it happens. All that was left when the boat sunk was ashes and splinters... It all was fine.

This year, on my brother’s birthday, I am arranging for a lone bagpiper to come to the harbor, unannounced, as dusk nears, play a few tunes and depart. There will be no explanation... none is required. All can wonder...

Willow shields sit along the side of each ship, while a hand-made ash urn fits perfectly inside.

Two of our Ash Viking Burial Ships already set sail on the water.

Sails come with red and white stripes, but your family crest, or any design of your choice can be added.

A TRIBUTE TO OUR BROTHER

My brother died a year earlier. We decided to hold a one-year remembrance for him in this way. Family members came from Europe and The west coast to participate. Our boating friends were happy to help.

The weather was perfect with light waves less than a foot as we headed out onto the lake in our motorboat. We played a selection of music and welcomed everyone to write private prayers to place in the basket of the boat along with several photos and mementos.

Under way, a seven jet formation of the Blue Angels, the US Navy jet performance demonstration team, just happened to fly In front of our bow as we motored out to the deep waters of the Great Lake. Less than 300 meters above us, perhaps a kilometer in front of us. The best I can figure, looking at their show schedule, they were flying from one air show location to the next.

The coincidental timing of the fly by was astounding. Why they were in formation, and so low? Perhaps they decided to give us a “show”. A minute timing difference one way or the other and we would not have crossed paths so closely, so dramatically. They were as modern day Valkyries. It was truly amazing! We were listening to Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries” at the time.

When we reach the memorial location, we launched the Viking boat, setting it afire, said prayers, read poems, read a code of “what it means to be a Viking”, listened to Wagner’s “Siegfried’s Funeral March” Followed by “I Vow to Thee”, as performed at Churchill‘s funeral.

We followed the recommendation of using two bricks as ballast for the boat. Kindling was placed at the bottom of the the hull. Larger, 5 cm cubes of hickory fueled the burn. We used the small wood chunks to avoid any dangerous floating debris the larger wood logs could have created. A little bit of lighter fluid helped start the combustion. The ship burned for about half an hour, down to the waterline, and the boat sank out of sight as the water flooded the hull. Thank you for constructing such a “seaworthy” boat.

We played continued with the music on the way back to harbor, including Pink Floyd‘s “Wish You Were Here“ and Bob Marley’s “Three little Birds”.

The coat of arms on the mast has special significance to my brother and me. He had a tattoo of it on his right bicep.

Thank you for helping us fulfill my brother’s last wishes. All who witnessed and participated in the farewell were moved by this most special ceremony. Even the most seasoned boaters said this tribute was unique and exceptional, just as my brother wanted.

Henry

FIRESHIP ON LAKE MICHIGAN USA

It's really important to make a decent fire using completley dry seasoned kindling wood and small seasoned logs for the fire and fill the boat up like in the photo as you ideally need the boat to burn for at least 20 minutes to get the full effect.a reasonable amount of lighter fuel (do not drench otherwise it will burn too quickly) sprayed on sail and about 4 or 5 firelighters in the bottom of boat under fire should do the trick.make sure the vessel is absoloutly ballanced ballanced in the water before launching off and setting on fire

TWO HOUSE BRICKS WEDGED IN EITHER SIDE FOR BALLANCE AND TO HELP THE BOAT SINK,BUT MAY NEED TO AJUST DEPENDING ON HOW HEAVY THE ASHES ARE

Viking Funerals and Burials History

Most Viking funerals did not involve a ship set ablaze and launched at sea, instead they usually involved ship shaped burial plots marked by stones. These tumuli, or burial mounds, can be found in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. However, the burning of the body, usually did take place and was important spiritually. The Norseman believed the hotter the flames and the higher the smoke, the closer their loved one came to Valhalla. It was important for Vikings to send their dead into the afterlife correctly.

However great warriors and members of the aristocracy were often set to rest in their long-ships. Sometimes these long-ships were buried and sometimes they were set on fire and sent off to sea. Vikings were buried with the belongings they may need in the afterlife, such as weapons or even animals. Sometimes a thrall (slave) was also sacrificed at the burial. The thrall was believed to go with the master into the afterlife to serve him there.

We are incredibly proud to be the winners of the “Coffin Supplier Of The Year” award at the Good Funeral Awards.Read more about our award.